Mary Frances Veeck

CTU Life Trustee and benefactor of CTU, died peacefully on Saturday, September 10, at the age of 102. Her funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Church on November 12 and was followed by a reception at CTU where her many friends, family members, and supporters celebrated her life and legacy. An ardent supporter of CTU, Mary Frances was also a lifelong learner, drawn to the values of Vatican II and took courses at CTU. She found a home at CTU, was a founding organizer of the Blessed are the Peacemakers Trustee Dinner event and worked to make CTU better known throughout Chicago. Surrounded by her immediate family, Mary Frances celebrated her 100th birthday at CTU in September 2020, with the backdrop of the art gallery named for her and her late husband, Bill. 

John Schornack

A former CTU board member passed away in October 2022. A visionary and leader behind numerous community and education initiatives for nearly 30 years, Mr. Schornack was a life trustee of United Way, the Kohl Children’s Museum and Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, and a former trustee of the Lyric Opera, St. Francis Hospital, and the Night Ministry. He served as a trustee of the Catholic Charities of Chicago. Surviving him is his loving wife of more than 50 years, Barbara Anne Lelli, his wonderful children and 13 beloved grandchildren.

Lorraine McNally

We continue to hold in our prayers, Lorraine McNally, beloved wife of Bill McNally, Chair of our Finance Committee, who died on December 5 after a battle with cancer. Lorraine and Bill had been married for 50 years. We pray that Lorraine be delighted in the fullness of God’s presence and that Bill knows the consolation and peace of the Risen Christ, supported by family and friends.

Nancy Perelmuter

On December 14, Nancy Perelmuter, beloved wife of Rabbi Hayim Goren Perelmuter, passed away at the age of 104. Rabbi Perelmuter was a founding member of the CTU faculty, on which he served from 1968 until his death in 2001. He and Fr. John Pawlikowski, OSM, Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics, created the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at CTU, which endures to this day, now under the leadership of Dr. Malka Zeiger Simkovich. Rabbi Perelemuter’s legacy endures in CTU’s annual Perelmuter Conference, bringing together Jewish and Christian scholars, both renowned senior scholars and emerging younger scholars to study together topics of mutual interest. Nancy always took an avid interest in CTU. She joined the Bible Department in festive gatherings and regularly attended the Shapiro Lectures and Perelmuter Conference. 

Mark Weber, SVD

On December 14, Rev. Mark Weber, SVD, died at the age of 68 after a five-month battle with infection from West Nile virus. Mark served as Formation Director of the SVD students at CTU, was rector of the Divine Word Theologate, and was a member of the CTU Corporation in the years he served as Provincial of their Chicago Province. Mark touched many lives with his humility and kindness during his missionary work in Ghana, and more recently in his ministry at Our Lady of Africa. He is keenly missed by the SVD and CTU community. 

Raymond Simon

A patriarch of the Simon family, whom we honored with our Diakonia award at our Blessed are the Peacemakers dinner last year, died peacefully at home on January 6 at the age of 90. We were blessed to have him present by means of a pre-recorded video message at the Blessed Are the Peacemakers event. Raymond and his family have been enthusiastic supporters and advocates for CTU and our mission for many years.

Andrew J. McKenna

A benefactor of CTU, and Chairman of Schwarz Supply Source, Morton Grove, Illinois, passed away on February 7, 2023. Mr. McKenna, who was preceded in death by his wife Joanie, was a strong supporter of CTU for decades. He served as the Chairman Emeritus of McDonald’s Corporation, served as director for the Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc., Ryan Specialty Group, the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Cubs, the Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame. Mr. McKenna served over the years on many civic, community and philanthropic boards including the Museum of Science and Industry, the Economic Club of Chicago , The Executives’ Club of Chicago. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the Big Shoulders Fund, The Ireland Economic Advisory Board, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago among others.